Hunter Nadeau of Nashua has now been charged with purposeful first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Robert DeCesare at Sky Meadow Country Club on Sept. 20, 2025. Courtesy photo/Nashua Police Department

NASHUA – Hunter Nadeau of Nashua has been charged with purposeful first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Robert DeCesare at Sky Meadow Country Club on Sept. 20, 2025, according to state Attorney General John Formella.

This in addition to the existing charge of reckless second-degree murder.

That evening, DeCesare and his wife, Charlene, were having dinner with their daughter, Makayla, to discuss her wedding. When Nadeau barged in, DeCesare dove in front of his family and died in a hail of bullets while saving the lives of his wife and daughter.

Nadeau has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder. One count for allegedly firing his weapon at a crowd of patrons and the second count for shooting Sky Meadow employee Steven Burtman in the face.

Burtman of Lowell, Mass. was flown to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and spent four days under sedation. He underwent two reconstructive surgeries and was released. However, as of December 2025, Burtman’s mouth remained wired shut and he faced the possibility of additional surgeries.

Lastly, Nadeau is charged with two counts of first-degree assault for causing bodily harm to Burtman and for shooting Brianna Surette in the leg.

Surette of Georgetown, Mass. was having dinner with her husband, Doug, to celebrate their five-year wedding anniversary. The couple’s evening of tranquil romance was shattered when they looked up and saw Nadeau pointing his gun at them. Surette said her husband instinctively threw himself across the table to shield her.

With their adrenaline pumping, neither of them realized that she was already shot in the leg.

Nadeau, a former Sky Meadow employee, was arrested 30 minutes after the shooting. Under state law, if convicted, he could face up to life in prison.